Robert Johnson

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT ROBERT JOHNSON - PAGE 5

A man apparently stabbed his wife to death with a kitchen knife before fatally shooting himself with a rifle in their Spring Grove house, police said Thursday. Police went to the home of Robert and Janet Johnson in the 27000 block of Rowe Avenue about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday after co-workers from the couple's jobs notified them that neither had shown up for work, said Deputy Chief Michael Blazincic of the Lake County Sheriff's Department. Officers found Robert Johnson, 49, in the garage with a gunshot wound to his head.

Personnel: Don Griffin, guitar; James Cloyd, bass and vocals; Pat Doody, drums. Background: The Griff Band, in some shape or form, has been a Chicago fixture since 1968. Originally conceived as a straightforward blues band, the group was rock-fusion-oriented (in the vein of Jeck Beck's "Wired") in the `70s and early `80s. Today, Griffin describes the band's sound as "blues with a rock approach." The current lineup has been together for five months. More history: One of Chicago's busiest guitar slingers, Griffin has toured and recorded with a wide array of local and national rock and blues acts in addition to his own Griff Band.

On Aug. 16, 1938, Robert Johnson, the Delta bluesman who immortalized "Sweet Home Chicago," died at age 27 after swigging from a bottle of strychnine-laced whiskey, tainted most probably by a jealous husband. It wasn't the poison that killed him, but a bout of pneumonia a few days later. That, plus what historians now believe was syphilis. The official cause of death was listed as "no doctor," a perfectly ambiguous coda for a musician whose entire career was steeped in legend and enigma.

Personnel: Wayne Healy, lead guitar and vocals; Marty Lloyd, acoustic guitar and vocals; Jim Bonaccorsi, bass; Rob Bonaccorsi, rhythm, slide and lap steel guitars; Simon Horrocks, drums. Formed: October, 1990. Current lineup together since: April, 1991. Background: Healy and Lloyd grew up together and met Jim Bonaccorsi in high school. That threesome played acoustic gigs while attending Holy Cross junior college in South Bend, Ind. The nearby University of Notre Dame was also a stomping ground for the fledgling group, which eventually added other members and became an electric band.

Gladys Wynn, age 90, of Chicago, formerly of Dowagiac. Gladys' life began on Aug. 28, 1916 in Jackson, MS, the daughter of Everett and Marie Johnson. She has lived in both Dowagiac and Chicago throughout her life. Gladys worked as a bookkeeper for the Pennsylvania Railroad for many years. She is survived by her caregiver, Victoria Cole of Merritt Island, FL. Gladys passed away at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago on Dec. 9, 2006. She is preceded in death by her brother, Robert Johnson.

Beginning Monday, the federal government will open major airport parking lots that have been off-limits since Sept. 11 because of worries about car bombs. Federal officials also will change the way air travelers are screened after they pass through security checkpoints over the next few weeks, checking them only at randomly selected gates, said Robert Johnson, Transportation Security Administration spokesman. "We're trying to avoid screening Grandma two or three times as she makes her way home for the holidays," Johnson said.

Raymond D. Johnson, age 73, U.S. Naval Veteran WWII, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2000, beloved son of the late Joseph and the late Annie E. Johnson; cherished husband of Dolores, nee Schultz; devoted father of John (Susan) Johnson, Rosemary (William) Murrin and Elizabeth (Jack) Pursian; loving brother of the late Robert Johnson and the late Dorothy (Joseph) Zimmer; proud grandfather of Robert, Sarah, Jeremiah, Korrine and four stepgrandchildren; dear great-grandfather of two stepgreatgrandchildren; fond uncle of numerous nieces and nephews.